J&K: 14 crows found dead at Mehbooba Mufti residence

Officials at the chief minister’s secretariat have been advised to avoid the lawn for some time.The recovery of 14 dead crows from the lawns of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s residence here has set alarm bells ringing. Regional Wildlife Warden V S Senthil Kumar said that a team of experts, including a veterinary doctor, examined the crows on Thursday.
He added that some of the crows have been sent to Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in R S Pura and Jalandhar’s North Region Disease Diagnostic Laboratory to ascertain the cause of their deaths. Some of the crows would be sent to a Bhopal lab as well.
“These death can be due to either poisoning, electric shock or avian influenza and to arrive at any conclusion, we are awaiting for laboratory reports,’’said Kumar. He added that reports were expected within two days in case of poisoning or electric shock and 10 days in case of influenza.
Officials at the chief minister’s secretariat have been advised to avoid the lawn for some time. “We will be carrying out anti-viral spray there in a day or two,’’ said Kumar. Wildlife Warden Amit Sharma said that they had sent a team for a disinfection operation on Friday evening, but officials first wanted to consult the Agriculture Department. Officials said that they feel that the crows might have fed on a rat killed by poisoning somewhere else.